Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
389
So, I just got a boat the other day, and it's my first boat. It's an '88 Sunchaser 16' with a Mercruiser 3.0L. Boat had been sitting for a bit(not too long), because the head gasket is blown on it. Still runs, but I need to fix it. Had it in the water to test it out.<br /><br />When I went to load it back up, I had some problems. We could not get the stupid thing to wench up onto the trailer hardly at all. The boat did NOT want to move. It was already partly up with a power load, and even with wenching/powering it the boat would not go all the way up the trailer. Ended up pulling it out of the water, and pushing it while wenching to get the last 18 inches on. There was an experienced boater with me at the time, guiding me in what I was doing to get the boat up.<br /><br />It has bunks, and keel rollers. So why was this so difficult? What to I need to do/check to make it easier in the future?
 

trebot

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 7, 2004
Messages
102
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Speedwagon,<br />Sounds like you don't have the trailer into the water far eneough. I've found if you back down 'til the trailer wheels are 1/2 under water, it's usually a good place to start. You can also try "watering" the bunks before you load.
 

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 5, 2005
Messages
389
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Oh, they were "watered" alright. The guy who drove my truck onto the ramp thought it was a 4x4, and put the whole dang trailer in the water. The water was up to the bumper on my truck(which is a 4x2 ranger), and got the whole rig stuck. Trailer was in the mud, and back tire was on slick concrete spinning. Had to get it towed out a bit first, then we started to load the boat.<br /><br />It may not have been low enough at this point, but it seemed like it should have been easier than it was, from what I've read on here so far.
 

reddog349

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 23, 2005
Messages
331
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

I suggest you try the boat agian with a friend and take your time and see what is hanging up.Perhaps one of the bunks brackets have worked loose and it cause the boat to sorta bind up .
 

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 5, 2005
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389
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Turns out the keel rollers work, if the boat would be on them. But the bunks have the boat too high for the rollers to do anything.<br /><br />I didn't see any adjustments that I could make on the bunks. So would I need new brackets to make the bunks go out a bit more? And how much weight are the keel rollers supposed to support? They look like they are designed to center the boat as it gets pulled on.
 

Triton II

Commander
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Nov 23, 2004
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2,479
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Speedwagon, I have a similar design of trailer - keel rollers and side bunks. The boat should sit on the bunks and the rollers. If the roller are not helping take the weight of the boat, the thing will be hard to winch. Are there plastic sliders on top of the bunks? If not it'll be even harder to winch on. So I suggest you look into making the boat sit on the rollers either by raising them or lowering the bunks evenly. I'll post a photo tomorrow to try and help you visualise what I mean.
 

Dunaruna

Admiral
Joined
May 2, 2003
Messages
6,027
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Triton, your boat is alloy, when it comes to support, it's chalk and cheese when comparing alloy and fibreglass.<br /><br />Some glass boats are designed to be supported by the keel only, the bunks are there for rocking support only, not weight. <br /><br />Speedwagon (REO?), I would suggest you give sunchaser a call and ask if their boats are 'keel support' only - it depends on the construction.<br /><br />Aldo
 

fishingdan

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Feb 12, 2005
Messages
1,045
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

You can spray your bunks with "Liquid Rollers". This is available at most marine product stores. This product works well.<br /><br />You could also buy the plastic like strips that you mount to your bunks. They are more slippery than the bunk alone.<br /><br />You could replace your wood bunks with roller bunks. These are about the same size as wood bunks, but have a lot of small rollers on them for loading/unloading. <br /><br />Chances are that the manufacturer will require that the hull be supported under the stringers and not the keel alone. <br /><br />The rear most roller should only contact the hull when the bow hits it for loading and unloading. <br /><br />I hate to say what was said earlier, but it sounds like the ramp wasn't deep enough for the trailer. I have a similar trailer and have no problems loading or unloading when the back 1/3 of the bunks are below the surface of the water. <br /><br />Good luck
 

Triton II

Commander
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Nov 23, 2004
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2,479
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

To REO: (you can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish! :cool: ) <br /><br />Here's the trailer shot mentioned earlier. Aldo is correct, however this design uses the rollers as the main weight bearers and the bunks as supports so I reckon the concept is the same. As you can see, the boat sits evenly on the rollers and the longitudinal and lateral bunks. Hope this helps. :) <br />
roller-bunks.jpg
 

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 5, 2005
Messages
389
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

It is Speedwagon because of the car I drive, not because of REO. I get asked that quite a bit too. :) <br /><br />I'll see about getting a pic of my trailer/boat setup as well.<br /><br />As for contacting the boat manufacturer, well, they only made boats from '85-'91 according to NADA.<br /><br />And as soon as I get my cylinder head back, and engine put together, I'm going to do some practice launching, and see what comes of that.
 

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
389
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Ok, here are some pictures now:<br />
boat.jpg
<br />
bowroller.jpg
<br />
keel.jpg
<br /><br />Here you can see that the keel doesn't sit on the rollers at all(angle of picture isn't that great). So it's just the 2 bunks supporting the boat.<br /><br />
winch1.jpg
<br />
winch2.jpg
<br /><br />While taking these, I noticed my winch plate is bent, and the weld has a small crack in it. But it's been like that for quite some time now, as there is rust all around it.
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Looks to me like there are a couple of things going on. First, those rollers are just there for protection while loading/unloading. That trailer is designed to support the boat entirely on the bunks with maybe a little contact with the rollers. My guess is that the ramp you are on is a little short as I bet you need to have those fenders almost under water to get some weight off of those bunks and help it slide up. I actually have my trailer partner back the trailer down lightly as I winch up to keep her stuck AND help her slide. Sounds contradictory, but just think about it for a minute as you don't want the boat to freely float as you winch up or you might hang up a lifting strake (funny line shelf like thing running down the length of the bottom) on the bunks. ;) <br /><br />Also, that winch is pulling your boat at too high an angle. I would lower the winch to where it pulls the boat more parrallel with the bunks. When you are cranking on the winch it is forcing the bow up and conversley the stern down which concentrates more weight in one area than using the whole bunk to minimize friction Other than those two issues I can see no reason why the boat won't slide on those bunks.<br /><br />Also, your bow stop is way wrong. You can see that the bow hits the pin holding the little rollers. That needs to be replced with a rubber vee-block type thing IMHO.<br /><br />Good luck and welcome aboard . . . :D
 

Triton II

Commander
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Nov 23, 2004
Messages
2,479
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Ohh...eerrr! Speedwagon, get that crack fixed or you'll lose the winch etc while winching. It's hard to tell from the photos but Quietcat could well be right in saying you basically need to float the boat onto and off that type of trailer. Any chance of a photo from behind and below... then we'll be able to give better advice. QC's absolutely right about the lack of a cotton reel roller on the winch... you need one to stop the damage you're incurring on the bow where it hits the pin. Good luck.
 

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
389
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

I knew about the bow pin there. I bought a bow roller(3") to replace those 2 rubber outside stops, but I haven't put it on yet. <br /><br />edit: How the blazes do you get those caps off the rod to put a new bow roller on there? They don't seem to want to budge. They are the top hat looking end caps.<br /><br />Only had the boat about a week, maybe a tad more.<br /><br />I moved the winch a bit, about as best I could figure it should go. Pictures are a bit dark, as it was about 11pm when I did this. :) <br /><br />
bow1.jpg
<br />
bow2.jpg
 

nboater

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 14, 2004
Messages
41
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

I would definitely consider replacing the winch bracket. If that weld breaks (as mentioned), at the wrong time you would be stranded, unable to load your boat. Mounting bolts for winch are rusted and need to be replaced. Might want to consider replacing the winch as well depending on how well it operates. Good luck!
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Speedemon,<br /><br />I may have steered you wrong on the winch. Looking at these dark pics compared to the first ones, the strap now goes under an idler (roller). It looks like it went over that before. Having it at the old height and under the idler would make some sense if that idler rolls freely . . . I don't recall seeing that style before though. Again, the idea about the winch strap from me is to get it to pull the boat parrallel with the bunks. It looks like it is pulling down now. :confused: <br /><br />As others, I am concerned about the weld breaking too, but you seem to be aware of that.
 

Nikko

Seaman
Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
55
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

I've got a 14'6" boat on a bunk-only trailer (no keel rollers, but there are keel "pads" on the trailer cross members. I'm a salt water guy and the ramp I use is shallow at the best of times (it'a almost flat at low tide..it really sucks!).<br /><br />I've found it best to back in the water until the front ends of the bunks are out of the water, but just. This way I can run onto the trailer, ride up on the bunks to center the boat but have time to flip the stern side to side as needed to get lined up. Then a light power-up and it nestles into the post cradle with the winch used to sung it into place. I've also not powered it up the trailer using this method and instead used only the winch. And up it went.<br /><br />I should note that this method was the result of a fair bit of experimenting. I'd unload, load, unload, load while my wife moved the trailer up and down for me. The spectators were amused I'm sure :) <br /><br />I should also note that I'm working off a paved ramp so I'm not digging holes or scouring when I power up the trailer.<br /><br />good luck!<br />Nikko
 

fishingdan

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Feb 12, 2005
Messages
1,045
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Assuming the bunks go to the transom, I think they look fine. The key to easy off loading will be having deep enough water to float the boat. Not all boat ramps are created equal. Maybe your favorite body of water has an another ramp. <br /><br />Pick up a can of "Liquid Rollers". Take the boat on the lake for a while. When you come back in and the bunks are dry, spray this on the bunks. It will make a world of difference.
 

tomatolord

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 1, 2004
Messages
548
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

I dont power mine on only float it up as far as it will go and then winch it the last 8 inches - <br /><br />Maybe it just got jammed with the power on you did<br /><br />You seem to have a pretty simple setup. The only thing I can think of is the bunks are not even and the boat was pitched to the side so you trying to pull the boat up on one bunk instead of two.<br /><br />From talking to trailer people the mfg of the boat is what decides wether or not that rear roller supports the keel or not. My mfg, Mckee, does not require the keel sit on that roller it is only a guide roller.<br /><br />If you bought this as a used boat - you may want to ask the mfg of the boat or if there is a boat dealer nearby of the mfg what the setup should be.<br /><br />When my dad bought his boat brand new it was virtually impossible to get the boat on the trailer it was a real struggle - we then found out later that the dealer had installed the roller brackets upside down! Everyone asked did the dealer setup the boat - then he must have done it right - so we looked at everywhere but there for the problem.<br /><br />We finally said "it cannot be that hard" and looked at how the boat was going on the trailer and realized what was going on.<br /><br />You need to do this on a calm day and like mid week with no one pressuring you to get the boat loaded and with no wakes etc...<br /><br />good luck.
 

Speedwagon

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2005
Messages
389
Re: Trouble loading a 16' on a bunk trailer

Had her in the water today. Took a look at the bunks, and the carpet is wearing thin on the end(back) of the bunk. So I think I'll redo the bunks, and see if that helps. Might move them out slightly, so I can use the keel rollers too. They aren't doing a dang thing! Boat keeps going on cocked to one side. And in order to get the boat off, I had to completely submerge the bunks. So I figured I'd have to do the same to get it back on, and it worked out ok. But I think I should be out of the water a tad bit more, so I could use the keel rollers to center the boat. I only had to winch it about 18" this time. Calm waters do help out a bit though. :)
 
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